Change in rhetoric of Russian leadership

Forecast: "What's happening in Russia and around the world. An in-depth look at the current times and a forecast for the foreseeable future" (published on April 20, 2026, link).

S. Dragun:

Around May 6, 2026, unexpected changes will begin in Russia. This is a very strange and unexpected turn that may surprise and completely upend all previous logic…

… The rhetoric of the Russian leadership will also change. Many things will appear very strange. The information presentation will be completely reviewed, or rather, re-examined.

On May 4, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at the European Political Community summit in Yerevan, threatened that Ukrainian drones might appear during the Victory Day celebration in Moscow on May 9.

In response to these threats, "the rhetoric of the Russian leadership suddenly changed. The information presentation was completely revised."

The Russian Defense Ministry promised to strike at the center of Kyiv if the Ukrainian armed forces attempted to disrupt Victory Day.

Zalavina responded to Zelenskyy's threats, calling him a "Nazi."

“God forbid,” Russia has to respond to threats from Ukraine to disrupt Victory Day. That's the opinion expressed by President Vladimir Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov, according to RIA Novosti.

“The Defense Ministry also stated that it would be wise for peaceful citizens - the residents of Kyiv - to leave the city if, God forbid, we have to respond to threats from the Zelensky regime,” he said.

Previously, the official spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, called for the evacuation of diplomatic mission staff and foreign representation offices from Kyiv.

Member of the State Duma Defense Committee, Andrei Kolesnik, in a conversation with aif.ru, suggested the use of the latest “Oreshnik” complex or another powerful weapon to strike Kyiv. According to him, this could happen if Ukraine attempts to disrupt Russia's May 9 celebrations.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Western forces are attempting to sabotage Russia's Victory Day celebrations through Ukraine.

He said Moscow does not plan to show mercy to those behind such actions. "I want to say frankly and responsibly: if what the resurgent Nazis in the West are doing through Ukraine happens, there will be no mercy for them," the minister said.

Earlier, Lavrov stated that Russia should eliminate any threats to its national security emanating from Ukrainian territory.

More and more is being declared at the highest state level that threats to Russia are coming from Brussels, and Ukraine is only a Western proxy.

In his statement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that many in Europe are openly calling for a repeat of Hitler's experience and preparing a new attack on the Russian Federation with the aim of dealing Moscow a strategic defeat.

Lavrov noted that special astonishment is caused by the statements of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has named as one of his main goals making the German armed forces the strongest in Europe. The minister pointed out that the EU leadership also actively encourages such revanchist sentiments.

Earlier, the Russian Ambassador to Germany, Sergei Nechayev, stated that Berlin is conducting accelerated militarization, preparing for a military confrontation with Moscow. The diplomat emphasized that for this purpose, German authorities are uncontrollably pumping military sphere with budgetary and loan funds.

Due to changes in external conditions, Moscow's attitude towards the Russian-Ukrainian negotiation process has also changed. Currently, conducting a new round of three-way negotiations between Moscow, Washington, and Kyiv on the issue of resolving the situation in Ukraine does not make sense, said Russian President's aide Yuri Ushakov.

According to him, for further progress, Kyiv should withdraw its troops from Donbas.

"Everyone understands, including, I would say, even the Ukrainian negotiators, that now Kyiv needs to take just one serious step, after which, first, military actions will be suspended, and second, perspectives for serious discussions about further long-term settlement will open up," he said.

The president's assistant noted that further beliefs in this matter are pointless, as now a concrete action from Kyiv is expected, particularly from Volodymyr Zelensky.

Earlier, the head of the Kyiv regime, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas would be a strategic loss for the country's armed forces. He also called the demand to withdraw the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Donbas "nonsense."

The negotiation process has reached a standstill.

In his expanded view of future events in Russia, S. Dragans predicts:

By May 17, 2026, ... there will be a process of strengthening Russia's status ... . And there will also be a trend towards the expansion of Russia's territorial space...